LG announced Knock Code that will come to LG smartphone models this year, including G Pro 2, G2 mini, F Series and L Series III. Today LG announced the Knock Code feature will also be available on earlier LG smartphone models via a firmware update starting in April. Owners of LG G2 and G Flex in specific countries will be the first to receive the Knock Code update which will give users instant access to their smartphones via a customized "knock" pattern. Here's more info:

With recent consumer research showing that most users check and unlock their devices between 100 and 150 times a day, LG was inspired to further enhance its KnockON feature with a higher layer of security and convenience. KnockOn, which LG patented in 2008, was the perfect foundation to further develop Knock Code, which is unique in its ability to both wake and unlock the phone in one step, a clear time-saver for users. It's no surprise that more than 50 percent of participants in a recent survey selected Knock Code as the most anticipated feature of G Pro 2, demonstrating the real need for an alternate solution to smartphone security.

The consumer benefits of LG's Knock Code technology are obvious in its ability to wake and unlock the phone simultaneously, providing more convenience and greater security over conventional password and pattern-based security options. With Knock Code, the smartphone display is divided into four invisible quadrants. The user taps or "knocks" anywhere from two to eight times in the quadrants in a specific sequence. With more than 80,000 possible combinations and no fingerprint streaks, Knock Code offers a level of security far greater than other devices, even those with fingerprint recognition systems. And because Knock Code can be implemented anywhere on the screen in any size without having to view the screen, there's no chance of password theft. In addition to being safer and more convenient, Knock Code is also more responsive compared to bio-recognition systems, which are much more susceptible to variations in the environment.